Anzac Day dawns bright in Numurkah

By Taylah Baker

Apr 25, 2023

From black to blue to yellow, the sky tinted its kaleidoscope over hundreds of silent people awaiting the beginning of Numurkah’s Anzac Day dawn service.

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It’s the same sky Anzac troops sailing to Gallipoli 108 years ago looked up to, though for many, it was the last time.

As dawn broke, heavy eyes watched Numurkah RSL senior vice-president Gerard Watson step forward.

“Let’s begin,” he said.

“It’s great to see so many people here to remember the sacrifices of those young men who laid down their lives.”

Mr Watson called upon speakers from the local primary and secondary schools, as well as Numurkah RSL president Stuart Hipwell, to deliver their remembrance sentiments.

Undoubtedly though, it was guest speaker Janet Stevens who left the crowd’s minds beating to the sound of her powerful words: “Pay them the respect they earned.”

Ms Stevens weaved through her family’s wartime history — the first time she saw her grandfather’s white feather, the story of her other grandfather, one of three locals, in combat via parachute.

“Not too shabby from the boys from the bush,” she said.

The ceremony flowed from the Last Post to a minute’s silence, broken when Mr Hipwell spoke the words: “Lest we forget.”

After Mr Hipwell concluded the service, he said he felt nothing but appreciation for the day.

“It’s the people, the country, those who worked hard. It’s important to remember,” he said.

“And the lifestyle we’ve been given because of their sacrifice has been good, though a lot has changed.

“We need to relish what we’ve got.”